very cozy with father Prescott in the old days. Goldwater portrayed Bush and Rockefeller as the two
competing frontbenefit from the widespread and vocal opposition to Rockefeller. On August 15, a source close to-runners. This was precisely where Bush wanted to position himself so that he could
Ford told David Broder and Lou Cannon that Bush now had the "inside track" for the vice
presidency. Rockefeller's spokesman Hugh Morrow retorted that "we're not running a boiler shop or
calling anyone or doing anything," unlike the strong-arm Bush team. [fn 3]
Inside the Ford White House, responses to Ford's sollicitaton were coming in. Among the top White
House councillors, Bush got the support of Kenneth Rush, who had almost become Nixon's
Secretary of State and who asserted that Bush "would have a broader appeal to all segments of the
political spectrum than any other qualified choice. His relative youth, Texas residence with a New
England background, wability, combined with his personal qualities of charm and tact, would make him a natural for theide popularity in business and political circles, and unqualified integrity and
new Presidential/Vice Presidential team." This encomium is quoted at length because it seems to be
a form letter or printout that was distributed by the Bush operation as talking points for Bush
supporters. [fn 4] Dean Burch wrote a memo to Ford pointing out that among the prominent
candidates, "only a few have a post-1980 pol"would be a Vice President with a long term political future.--a potential candidate, at least, for theitical future." "My own choice," Burch told Ford, (^)
Presidency in his own right." In Burch's conclusion, "Still operating on this assumption, my
personal choice is George Bush." [fn 4].
The cabinet showed more sentiment for RocHEW, James Lynn of HUD, Frederick Dent of Comkefeller. Rogers Morton of the Interior, Weinberger ofmerce, and Attorney General Saxbe were all for (^)
Rocky. Earl Butz of Agriculture was for Goldwater, and James R. Schlesinger of Defense was for
Eliott Richardson. No written opinion by Henry Kissinger appears extant at the Ford Library.
Among the cabinet and the senior White House counselors, therefore, Rocky had bested Bush 7 to
3, with Burch and Rush providing Chairman George's most convinced support.
Then the White House staff was polled. Pat Buchanan advised Ford to avoid all the younger men,
including Bush, and told the president that Rockefeller would "regrettably" have to be his choice.
John McLaughlin also told Ford to go for Rocky, although he mentioned that Bush "would also be a
fine vice president." [fn 5] Riasserting that Bush's "father and gradfather were both highly respected investment bankers in Newchard A. Moore was for Bush based on his economic credentials, (^)
York." In the White House staff, Bush won out over Rockefeller and Scranton. Among personal
friends of Ford, Bush won out over Rocky by a 4 to 3 margin.
Among Republican governors, there was significant resistance to Bush. Former PennsylvaniaGovernor William Scranton, who had been considered of presidential caliber, wrote to Ford aide (^)
Phillip Buchen of Bush: "Quite frankly, in my experience with him his one drawback is a limitation
of his administrative ability." [fn 6] Among serving governors, only Thomas J. Meskill of
Connecticut, and Otis R. Bowen of Indiana put Bush in first place. When all the governors'
preferences were tabulated, Bush came in third, trailing Rockefeller and Governor Daniel J. Evansof Washington.
Among the Republican Senators, Bush had intense competition, but the Prescott Bush network
proved it could hold its own. Howard Baker put Bush second, while Henry Bellmon and Dewey
Bartlett sent in a joint letter in support of Bush. Bob Dof preferences, commenting that the choice of Bush would be widely regarded as "totally partisan."ole but Chairman George last among his list (^)
Pete Dominici put Bush as his first choice, but also conceded that he would be seen as a partisan
pick. Roth of Delaware had Bush in third place after John J. Williams and Rocky. Hugh Scott of
Pennsylvania wanted Rocky or Goldwater, but put Bush in third place. James Pearson of Kansas
had Bush as first choice. Jesse Helms mentioned Bush, but in fifth place after Goldwater, Harry